This year’s Fourth of July saw the biggest spending on groceries ever, according to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual Market Basket Survey.
analysis saw The company estimates the cost of a barbecue for 10 people will be $71.52, a 5% increase from 2023 and 30% higher than it was five years ago under former President Donald Trump.
“The cost of $7.12 per person was the highest recorded since AFBF began tracking the cost in 2013. Barbecue favorites included cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream,” the American Agriculture Society analysis said.
“Market Basket research shows that beef and lemonade prices are up double digits year-over-year, while chicken breast and potato salad prices are down,” it continued.
A chart consistent with this analysis shows a hamburger bun costing $2.41 and two pounds of ground beef costing $12.77 — the latter alone up 11 percent from last year — and a 2.5 quart glass of lemonade for $4.19, also up 12 percent from last year.
Additionally, the analysis found that a pack of cookies costs $3.99, two pints of strawberries cost $4.61, two pounds of chicken breasts cost about $7.83, and 2.5 pounds of potato salad cost $3.32. Notably, only two items on the list are cheaper than last year: chicken, which is down 4 percent, as is potato salad.
Below is the complete list of AFBF 2024 Summer Cookouts.
2 pounds of ground beef, $12.77 (+11%)
2 pounds of chicken breasts, $7.83 (-4%)
3 lbs. pork chops, $15.49 (+8%)
1 pound of cheese, $3.57 (+1%)
1 pack of hamburger buns, $2.41 (+7%)
Homemade potato salad, 2.5 pounds, $3.32 (-4%)
Pork and beans, 32 oz, $2.49 (+2%)
Potato chips, 16 oz, $4.90 (+8%)
13 oz chocolate chip cookie, $3.99 (+2%)
1/2 gallon of ice cream, $5.65 (+7%)
2 pints of strawberries, $4.61 (+1%)
Lemonade 2 1/2 quarts, $4.19 (+12%)
More from AFBF:
Several factors are contributing to these price increases and reflect the challenges farmers face on a daily basis. Recent droughts forced ranchers to sell many cattle early last year, reducing the amount of beef available for the summer grilling season. The increase in lemon prices can be attributed to citrus greening. [a disease that affects citrus plants]It devastated the citrus industry in Florida and then spread to California.
…
While $7.12 per person is historically high, Americans still spend a lower percentage of their money on food than any other country globally.
Rising food prices “reflect the many challenges facing American families,” AFBF chief economist Roger Cryan said in a statement.
“Unavailability of some staple foods and inflation are hitting people’s wallets,” he said, noting that “farmers are also feeling the effects of higher prices.”
According to AAA: trip Travel numbers are expected to break records during Independence Day week, with an estimated 70.9 million people expected to travel during Independence Day week.
